Belated Landfall

Sorry for the delay in this last blog entry. What with dealing with the engine problem (see below), moving the boat down the sound to her permanent mooring, and getting home to Salt Lake, time just got away from me.

So, we obviously did make it in, Saturday the 2nd to be precise. There was a bit of drama at the very end, though. We had been nursing a sick engine for the previous week or so, and it seemed doubtful that it would take us in to port. The weather wasn't cooperating, with clear, sunny, windless skies, so we really needed the motor. We rounded the spit at Port Angeles with the engine coughing and belching white smoke every couple of minutes. And just as we entered the marina, the engine quit completely. With a good breeze (now the breeze comes up!) behind us, we sailed under bare poles up to the transient dock. Robyn was there to meet us, so she caught our line, took two turns around a cleat, and held on tight. Kind of like landing on an aircraft carrier.

Anyway, my crew jumped ship almost immediately for a hotel and then on to their families. Robyn and I spent the evening and night with friends nearby in Sequim, then the next night on the boat before she needed to go back to work in eastern Washington. Then I motored Mintaka for two days down to Brinnon, Washington, where I put her away in our new slip in Home Port Marina.

It was a good, mellow passage. We had fair winds for all but a few hours. A bit light perhaps, but no complaints. It was great to sail back in to where we left ten years ago. It really feals like I've done something.

Will we go out again? I hope so. On Mintaka? That remains to be seen. She'll remain in Washington for the winter, and then, we'll see.

Approaching the Strait of Juan de Fuca

At 1700 hours today, Friday, we are 50 nm W of Cape Flattery, and sailing well. We have every expectation of making it in to Port Angeles tomorrow.

Day 20

This is short, but we have power issues again.

At noon today, we should be about 220 nautical miles west of Cape Flattery. We might make Port Angeles by dark Saturday night.

Don & Deneb saw an Orca RIGHT NEXT TO the boat night before last. I was sleeping :(